Authors: Renita Pizzitola
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” His lips found mine again. It was easy to get lost in those kisses, as if it was just he and I and nothing was wrong, but I knew that wasn’t true.
“Grant, it’s just a matter of time before they come looking for me. Whatever we are going to do, we need to do now.” Just then we heard a sound. We both glanced around but saw nothing.
In a hushed voice Grant spoke, “we should get out of here.”
We stepped off the gazebo and headed back to the main trail. We cautiously checked both directions before stepping out.
“Isn’t that your bag?”
I looked down and right next to the trail sat my messenger bag. I picked it up and opened it. It had my clothes and much better getaway shoes than the heels I held in my hand. I pulled them out and slipped them on, then tucked my other shoes under a bush, hoping they would stay hidden. When I stood, I could have sworn I saw a woman with long blonde hair turning the corner, then disappearing. My mother.
I blinked hard as if seeing things, but my eyes played no tricks. It was her. Shocked, I stared at Grant, who wore a similar expression.
“She did say she wanted to help find a way out of this,” I said to him.
But, what were her intentions? I wasn’t sure if she approved of me running or if she just blamed herself so much for my unhappiness she did this in an attempt to right her wrong. I wanted to be touched by her willingness to help me, but somewhere inside of me I still just couldn’t connect with her. Although the lack of bond between us was apparent to me, I still appreciated her effort.
“I guess this in her contribution,” I said.
“I guess.”
“How do we get out of here without going back through the main house?”
“Don’t worry. I’ve worked here long enough to know every way in and out of this place.”
He led me down various twists and turns, my dress billowing out behind me as we ran. I kept checking over my shoulder, expecting to find someone following us, but no one ever did. We made it to a wall. Grant felt around looking for something, then finally gave a large stone a push and a door opened.
“Just like the movies.” I grinned.
“Let’s hope so, they always make perfect getaways.” We stepped through the door and he repeated the process to close it from the other side. “Before we go, are you sure you want to do this? No matter what the consequences?”
“Yes, of course. The alternative is marrying Liam and losing you. I don’t see how any consequence could be worse.” Grant let out a heavy sigh, and I had a feeling I was very wrong about that. “What about you? You have more to lose than me.”
“The only thing I’m worried about losing is you.” He took my hand. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Where are we going?”
“For starters, to Nanny’s and from there, I’m not sure yet. It will be okay though, we will figure this out.”
And like that we left behind the castle–me in my princess dress and Grant holding my hand–never once looking back.
* * * *
The next morning the two of us stood on Nanny’s back porch looking out into the heavily treed forest. I had a feeling that’s where we were headed. I turned to Grant. “They are going to come after us, aren’t they?”
His crystal blue eyes briefly met mine, then he looked back at the trees and nodded.
My eyes teared. “Grant?” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “How does it all end?”
He remained quiet for a long time. The only sound around us was the gentle rustling of trees as the wind blew.
His hand found mine and finally he spoke, “I don’t know, Kylie. I just don’t know.” He gazed up at the blue sky, back into the forest and finally to me. “But I do know, this is your faery tale, and I am going to do everything in my power to make sure it has a happy ending.”
With that he pulled me into his arms and kissed me softly on the lips.
Epilogue
Alastar stood in the gardens. The morning sun shone down on him in what should have been a perfect day. His brows were creased together, his jaw clenched and in his hand he held a shoe. Behind him Liam stood quietly observing his father. He didn’t want to be here or be a part of this. He just wanted to be alone, but he had no choice and was dragged along.
Alastar called to his awaiting guards. “Find her.” His knuckles whitened as he tightened his grip on the shoe. “Bring her back and bring her soon. I don’t know who this girl thinks she is, but she
will
marry my son.”
The guards nodded. “Sire,” one guard cautiously spoke up. Alastar looked at him, eyes narrowed. “Grant is missing as well.”
Liam’s eyes widened, surprised by this new information. He refused to believe the events were connected. He wasn’t sure how Kylie left last night, but surely Grant wouldn’t betray him like that.
Alastar closed his eyes and inhaled a deep breath, slowly exhaling. “Find him and get rid of him.” Liam flinched, hearing the venomous words ooze off his father’s lips.
“Sire, you want us to– “
Alastar’s voice was like ice. “I said get rid of him. You have my orders. Now go.”
The guards scrambled away, leaving Liam and Alastar standing alone. Alastar handed the shoe to Liam, his voice cool as he spoke, “I don’t know what happened to make her run out on her own party, but don’t worry, we
will
find her.” Liam tensed, there was no question about it. Alastar did not offer comfort, it was a threat.
As Alastar walked away, Liam stood there thinking about the way Kylie looked at him right before she left and the pain that sliced through him as he watched her departing figure. She was a sight to behold as the dim lighting danced off her silver dress.
If he hadn’t held her in his own arms only minutes before, he may have believed she never really existed, just a dream. A beautiful dream, so beautiful it hurt.
Liam suspected she wasn’t ready, maybe got cold feet, but he never expected her to vanish altogether. He had hoped time would help, and he wanted to give her that. Give her space, slow things down and let her choose him on her own. He cared too much for her not to, but running away? That wasn’t in his plan. But she could come back.
His chest tightened and he took a painful, deep breath. He really hoped she came back, but then he remembered what the guard had said. Grant was missing as well.
Liam had never known betrayal. He’d never had any friends to betray him. But Grant was his friend. Was this betrayal? He couldn’t accept that. Maybe Grant saw her leave and went after her. That had to be it. He followed her for her own safety and for Liam.
He swallowed the hard lump in his throat. Grant was his friend. His friend who was now being hunted down by his father’s guards.
And Kylie– What about her? She was being hunted as well. He would like to think his father looked for her out of concern, but Liam knew that had nothing to do with this. His father wanted them married, nothing more. But why even that? Why was his marriage to Kylie so important? Why didn’t his father just let her go? He could rescind his offer of safety and be done with it. Was it merely because no one ever disobeyed the king and she’d gone against his wishes? Or was there something more?
Knowing his father, there was always something more.
Liam looked back down at his hand, staring at the only evidence Kylie had been there the night before and wondered if his father’s guards would find the girl who fit this shoe, but more importantly did she even want to be found?
About Renita Pizzitola
Finding happily-ever-after isn't always easy. Sometimes there are moments in life when we realize we've been chasing someone else's faerytale and decide it's time to create our own.
Kylie's story is a testament to that. The life of a faery princess isn't her dream, and though the simplest things seem the hardest to obtain, she will not stop seeking a happy ending.
While, Renita Pizzitola's characters may live in a world of fantasy, they still face the struggles of life–from heartache to first love, promises to betrayal, and questions to answers–but one thing remains certain, they will come out stronger on the other side.
When not writing, Renita enjoys reading and spending time with her family and friends. She also loves a good laugh and always tries to appreciate the lighter side of life. And as for her happily-ever-after, well, she found that the moment she pursued her dream of becoming a writer.
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